Sherry Dee (Chidester) Bock was born October 3, 1935, in Hutchinson, KS, the daughter of Arthur D. and Edna I. (Wickendoll) Chidester. She left this earthly life to enter heaven's gates on March 18,2025, at Parkview Care Center, Osborne, KS, following a short illness.
Sherry grew up in Hutchinson and graduated from Hutchinson High in 1953. She was united in marriage to William E "Bill" Bock, November 6,1953, in Downs, KS. To this union were born five children: Richard Wayne (Dick), Robert Allan (Tad), Sandra Jeane, Laura Susan and Rhonda Lynne.
While visiting friends around the Downs, KS area in her early teenage years, she met a man at the Downs Celebration named "Bill" Bock. They had a few dates and stayed in touch. When he entered the military, they kept in touch by letter. In December 1952, she received a diamond. Bill was discharged from the Marines in September 1953, and they were wed in November that same year.
After their wedding in Downs, KS, they moved in with his recently widowed aunt, Carol Bock…. later moving to the "little house" on that farmstead. In 1959, expecting their 5th child, they moved north to the "rock house" where they resided until 2014, when they purchased a home at 1 Circle Drive, in Downs. (Met in Downs, married in Downs, retired to Downs)
Sherry helped make a home for their 5 children, and also, helped Bill with the farming. She was a member of and attended Oak Creek Christian Church, playing the piano, teaching Sunday School, growing in her faith, and striving to encourage others.
Sherry had a God-given talent as a pianist. Self-taught and playing by ear, she accompanied many singers through the years. She felt the accompanist should enhance a singer's talent, not overshadow it and she did that very well. She also just played for herself. (Her family would say playing the piano was her "therapy"). There were several years that Bill would wake up in the night right before Easter, to Sherry playing excerpts from Handel's "Messiah"!
Sherry sang in a trio with Dorothy Jennings and Betty Jo Banks; played for high school aged singing groups directed by Betty Jo (The Highlighters and Challengers), who sang at various churches around; played at many funerals/weddings and accompaniment for many singers for funerals/weddings. She filled in a few times as Activity Director at MidAmerica nursing home in Downs and played for many sing-a-longs through the years at MidAmerica as well as Parkview Care Center. On the home front, she made sure that Bill had good food to eat (and he did like to eat her cooking!). She was secretary for the Smith County Hospice working with Deb Evangelidis in its early years. She loved to help people, whether by sending flowers, writing a bit of poetry or a hand-written note, or helping care for them…some, in their final days. Although she would not take credit…. she WAS a CARE-giver. She was also a good listener and did what she could to further the kingdom of God.
She did not talk much about herself and preferred to stay in the background. Bill was her "joy" on this earth. Now she is reunited with him and in heaven, face to face with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She will be missed by many…. more than she would ever have thought.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bill; daughter, Sandra Blankenbaker; grandsons, Andrew Bock & Joshua Simmelink; her parents; mother & father-in-law, Vera & Neil Bock; sister & husband, Marilyn & Willis Rousey; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Eula & Wayne Merrill Thompson, Lloyd & LaVerne Bock; brother-in-law, Raymond Griffith.
Those she has left behind are, sons, Richard (Linda) Bock of Lebanon, Robert (Terri) Bock of Ellsworth; and daughters, Laura (Vernon) Ray of Salina and Rhonda (Roy) Atwood of Esbon; 11 grandchildren, Erica, Crystal, Jessica, Jason, Mary, Carissa, Jordan, Evan, Lane, Michaela, and Jeremy; 17 great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Whitley, Elijah, Jaxon, Miyah, Violet, Izayah, Levi, Ava, Eva, Beau and Briggs, Weston, Kamryn, Luka, Kooper and Emma; 3 great-great grandchildren, Jackson, Samuel and Bailee; sister-in-law, Ruth Griffith of Phillipsburg and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Donna and Forrest Holliday of Havensville as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
A celebration of Sherry’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 29, 2025, at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Dave Hardy officiating. Private family inurnment will take place at a later date. Memorials may be given to the Sherry Dee Bock Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel. www.allfaithsfuneralchapel.com